Rhu Strand

Hi there I am Rhu Strand and my journey to having a regular magazine feature, teaching internationally, creating online video’s, having my own face mould available and running sugarcraft holidays in France, started in 2010 when I was asked to teach a return to work confidence building class at a local community centre, I was amazed at how much I enjoyed the experience and thrilled to be asked to teach adult education classes at the local college, I then progressed onto teaching privately which allowed me to follow my own passion of sculpting figures.

As most of us do, I started with birthday cakes for my own children, way back when there wasn’t the information we have today, always ready to challenge mum to a variety of subjects, no matter how they turned out they were always delighted with the results.

As they got older the parties dropped off and so did the cakes, but when they turned 18 and 21 I was determined to do the ‘mummy’ thing again and make them a cake…. little did I know that I would discover a whole world of sugarcraft on the internet that had me desperate to find out more…. it has taken me to more places than I could have ever imagined possible, including New York, Sweden, Switzerland, France, Budapest and India!

The main turning point in my career was entering Cake International in 2013 with my figure Cherry and winning a gold, from there I strived to improve and develop my figures, I feel I am still on that journey sharing it with my students and colleagues through lessons, magazine tutorials, online video tutorials and week long breaks in France where students can focus, relax and just immerse themselves in sugarpaste, modelling chocolate and a number of other mediums, building their confidence and skills in an encouraging environment.

I feel incredibly lucky and honoured to have won a number of gold awards, two first in class and best in show at Cake International over the years. I have become actively involved in a number of projects at the shows and demonstrations too.

I also have a very successful face mould that I developed to help anyone with their figures, I know how much time and effort goes into the practice to get your figures just right and with the Face Base Mould it has helped numerous people take the stress out of this area of cake decorating.

I am still on my journey, it is exciting, exhilarating, often stressful, demanding and all consuming, I have so many other plans, possibilities and crazy idea’s in my head that I don’t see it ending any time soon. I hope you will follow or join me on this amazing ride.